Removable sealing closure with closure attachment means

ABSTRACT

A container (40) has a body (41) having an open end (42) surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly extending flange (43). A closure (44) is adapted to be sealed to the container body (41). The closure (44) has a flange clamping portion (48) such that when the closure (44) is mounted to the body (41), the flange clamping portion (48) forms a seal with at least the outer surface of the flange (43) by exerting pressure inwardly against the flange (43). The flange clamping portion (48) can also be adapted to form a seal with the open end (42) of the body (41) and the inner surface of the container body (41) proximate its open end (42). A thread ring (10) adapted to be mounted to the open end of a container is also described. The thread ring has a retaining means comprising a continuous hook (13) that is adapted to sealingly engage the open end of the container and so provide a means for closures to be readily and sealingly attached to containers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to closures for containers andcontainer/closure combinations.

BACKGROUND ART

Metal containers and in particular steel and aluminium cans, have longbeen employed for the storage and transport of a wide range of products,including foods and beverages. One reason for the popularity of the canin relation to foods has been its ability to provide a sterileenvironment for the food product despite what can be significant storagetimes between filling of the can and ultimate consumption of the productby the consumer.

In the case of foods, heating in a steam pressurised retort is oftenutilised to cook the food and also ensure that a high enough temperaturefor a sufficient length of time is achieved to ensure that "commercialsterility" of the contents results. Cans for foods must remainhermetically sealed at temperatures as high as 130° C. retort pressuresof more than 40 psi or vacuum pressures of the order of 4-5 inHg. Thepackage should throughout this process and thereafter remainhermetically sealed until the time it is deliberately opened forconsumption, and should remain effectively sterilised of pathogenic foodspoilage organisms regardless of whether the food is served heated ornot. The packaging that has met this requirement has typically been thenon-resealable steel can which can withstand the high temperaturesduring the heat processing cycle and protect the contents againstspoilage. Such cans have typically been opened by can openers thatremove or puncture one end of the can to allow access to its contents.In more recent times, the use of ring-pull arrangements that allow oneentire end of a can to be torn away from the can, and so removing theneed for the use of a separate can opener, has also become morewidespread.

Steel and aluminium cans have also proved ideal for containingcarbonated liquids because of the can's ability to withstand the highinternal pressures generated by carbonated liquids, such as soft drinksand beer (eg: pressures of about 96 psi and pasteurisation temperaturesof around 60° C. are not uncommon). Such cans have typically had aring-pull or similar mechanism that can be actuated to form a relativelysmall orifice in one end of the container. The traditional small orificehas a number of disadvantages, including that it cannot be resealed andthat its dimensions slows the rate of consumption of the product incomparison with drinking the beverage from, for example, a glass orsimilar container. The small orifice also substantially prevents anyaromas of the product being detected by the drinker which for manybeverages, for example beer, detracts from the enjoyment of drinking theproduct.

The present invention is directed to an alternative mechanism forsealing the end of a container that retains the advantages of thepresent techniques whilst overcoming some of their disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in acontainer comprising:

a body having an open end surrounded by a flange, the flange extendingoutwardly and towards an end of the body distal the open end;

a closure for the body comprising a top portion and a skirt extendingoutwardly from the top portion, an inner surface of the closure having aflange clamping area;

a closure attachment means mounted on the body proximate the flange;

the closure and closure attachment means having complementary engagementmeans such that on movement of the closure in one direction relative tothe closure attachment means the complementary engagement means mayengage to bring the container to a closed condition and on movement ofthe closure in another direction relative to the closure attachmentmeans the complementary engagement means may disengage to bring thecontainer to an opened condition; and

wherein when the container is in the closed condition, the flangeclamping area forms a seal with at least the flange by exerting inwardpressure against the flange.

In one embodiment, the flange clamping area can also seal with the openend of the container by exerting pressure on the open end of thecontainer. In a still further embodiment, the flange clamping area canseal with the inner surface of the container body by exerting pressureoutwardly against the inner surface of the body.

The present inventor has determined that the provision of a flange thatextends at least outwardly and towards an and of the body distal theopen end allows for an inward pressure to be exerted on the flange, suchthat a seal is formed with at least the outer surface of the flange.This sealing arrangement provides excellent sealing performance betweenthe closure and the body.

In one embodiment of this aspect, the flange can have a frusto-conicalportion. In another embodiment, the flange can have a portion thatextends substantially parallel to the container body. In a still furtherembodiment, the flange can have a free end embedded in or in abutmentwith the closure attachment means. In a still further embodiment, theflange can abut or be integral with the body of the container proximateits open end. In yet a still further embodiment, the flange can have aninwardly extending portion distal the open end of the container, theinwardly extending portion having an end proximate to or in abutmentwith the container body.

The flange clamping area preferably comprises an abutment surface that,when the container is brought to the closed condition, comes intoface-to-face relationship with the outer surface of the flange. Theabutment surface is preferably positioned so as to exert an inwardpressure against the flange so forming an hermetic seal with thecontainer. Where the flange shape is modified in a particularembodiment, the abutment surface is also modified to ensure theprovision of the face-to-face relationship between the abutment surfaceand the flange when the container is brought to the closed condition.

In one embodiment, the flange clamping area can be provided by theprovision of a groove in the underside of the top portion of the closureadjacent the skirt. The groove is preferably positioned relative to theskirt and is shaped so as to snugly receive the open end of thecontainer body and at least a portion of the flange when the containeris brought to the closed condition, with the surface of the grooveserving to exert the required inward pressure against the flange and,preferably, also to exert pressure on the open end and inner surface ofthe container body.

The body of the container can be substantially cylindrical with theflange circumferentially surrounding the open end of the container. Inthis embodiment, the closure attachment means will preferably comprisean annular ring with the engagement means disposed on its outer surface.

According to a second aspect, the present invention consists in acontainer comprising:

a body having an open end;

a closure attachment means mounted over the open end of the container,the closure attachment means having an open end surrounded by a flange,the flange extending outwardly and towards an end of the closureattachment means distal the open end of the closure attachment means;

a closure comprising a top portion and a skirt extending outwardly fromthe top portion, an inner surface of the closure having a flangeclamping area;

the closure and closure attachment means having complementary engagementmeans such that on movement of the closure in one direction relative tothe closure attachment means the complementary engagement means mayengage to bring the container to a closed condition and on movement ofthe closure in another direction relative to the closure attachmentmeans the complementary engagement means may disengage to bring thecontainer to an opened condition; and

wherein when the container is in the closed condition, the flangeclamping area forms a seal with at least the flange by exerting inwardpressure against the flange.

In one embodiment of the second aspect, the flange clamping area canalso seal with the open end of the closure attachment means by exertingpressure on the open end of the attachment means. In a still furtherembodiment, the flange clamping area can seal with an inner surface ofthe closure attachment means by exerting pressure outwardly against theinner surface of the attachment means.

In one embodiment of the second aspect, the flange can have afrusto-conical portion. In another embodiment, the flange can have aportion that extends substantially parallel to the closure attachmentmeans. In a still further embodiment, the flange can have a free endembedded in or in abutment with the closure attachment means. In a stillfurther embodiment, the flange can abut or be integral with the closureattachment means proximate its open end. In yet a still furtherembodiment, the flange can have an inwardly extending portion distal theopen end of the closure attachment means, the inwardly extending portionhaving an end proximate to or in abutment with the closure attachmentmeans.

The flange clamping area in the second aspect preferably comprises anabutment surface that, when the container is brought to the closedcondition, comes into face-to-face relationship with the outer surfaceof the flange. The abutment surface is preferably positioned so as toexert an inward pressure against the flange so forming an hermetic sealwith the closure attachment means. Where the flange shape is modified ina particular embodiment, the abutment surface is also modified to ensurethe provision of the face-to-face relationship between the abutmentsurface and the flange when the container is brought to the closedcondition.

In one embodiment of the second aspect, the flange clamping area can beprovided by the provision of a groove in the underside of the topportion of the closure adjacent the skirt. The groove is preferablypositioned relative to the skirt and is shaped so as to snugly receivethe open end of the closure attachment means and at least a portion ofthe flange when the container is brought to the closed condition, withthe surface of the groove serving to exert the required inward pressureagainst the flange and, preferably, also to exert pressure on the openend and inner surface of the closure attachment means.

The closure attachment means in the second aspect can be substantiallycylindrical with the flange circumferentially surrounding the open endof the attachment means. In this embodiment, the closure attachmentmeans will preferably comprise an annular ring with the engagement meansdisposed on its outer surface.

In the above aspects, the closure can have a top planar surface, the topplanar surface having an upwardly extending annular ring adapted toallow the closure to be slidably engaged with the distal end of thecontainer body when the closure is removed from the open end of thecontainer body. The provision of the annular ring is particularlyadvantageous as it provides a convenient means of readily locating theclosure on the bottom of the container following its removal from theopen end. The upwardly extending annular ring can in turn have aresiliently flexible web extending outwardly therefrom. The flexibilityof the outwardly extending web is preferably such that it does notinterfere with the ready stacking of containers having the closure oneabove the other, for example, on a display shelf or in storage but issufficiently rigid so that it will hold a removed closure on the distalend of the container following its removal from the open end.

The engagement means on the outer surface of the annular ring in each ofthe above aspects preferably comprises a screw thread adapted to engagewith a complementary screw thread on the inner surface of the skirt ofthe closure. The screw thread on the closure can comprise a single-startor multi-start screw thread.

In each of the above aspects, the skirt of the closure can also have afree end with the free end having connected thereto a tamper evidentband, such as is known in the art. The tamper evident band can beadapted to engage with a bead or similar protuberance on the outersurface of the closure attachment means below the engagement means justas the closure is disengaged from the container. The engagement of theband with the bead will preferably lead to some visual effect such asthe band being torn from the skirt thereby alerting potential users orconsumers that the container has already been opened.

The closure, body and/or annular ring in each of the above aspects caneach be made of a metal, a plastic material, or a combination of bothmaterials. In the second aspect, the container can also be made of othermaterials such as a glass or a ceramic. The body and top portion of theclosure can be formed from or lined with thermoplastics barrier sheetmaterial. The body and top portion may also be formed from a metal suchas aluminium or steel. The barrier sheet material can be extrudedmulti-layer sheet that contains one or more layers which are resistantto the permeation of at least oxygen and water vapour. The barrier sheetmaterial preferably comprises at least one polycarbonate layer and atleast one amorphous polyethylene terephthalate layer or, alternatively,the barrier sheet may comprise at least two layers of polypropylene andat least one layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol. When the amorphouspolyethylene terephthalate layered structure is utilised it can comprise90% of a 200 to 1200 micron total layer thickness of the barrier sheet.If necessary, the top portion of the closure can have a number ofstrengthening ribs on its upper or lower surface.

In each of the above aspects, the closure attachment means and the skirtportion of the closure can be moulded from polypropylene. In oneembodiment, the annular ring can be formed integrally with the body.

The container according to this aspect can be used to store foodproducts, including solids, liquids and solid/liquid combinations. Thecontainers can also be used to store other products where degradation ofthe products is undesirable, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals,paints, and the like.

According to a third aspect, the present invention consists in a closureattachment means for mounting to an open end of a container, the closureattachment means comprising a retaining portion for sealingly retainingthe closure attachment means to the open end of the container,engagement means that may be engaged with complementary engagement meanson a closure, and a first end surrounded by a flange, the flangeextending outwardly and towards an end of the body distal the first endof the closure attachment means, the retaining portion including a firstportion having a surface adapted to abut one surface of the containerand a second portion adapted to engage with the open end and the othersurface of the container.

For many materials it is not possible or it is at least difficult toreadily provide an engagement means on a container that allows a closureto be readily sealingly engaged to the container. The closure attachmentmeans according to the third aspect of the invention allows a closure tobe readily and sealingly attached to a container without requiring anyor at least significant modification of the container to which it is tobe attached.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the flange can have afrusto-conical portion. In another embodiment, the flange can have aportion that extends substantially parallel to the closure attachmentmeans. In a still further embodiment, the flange can have a free endembedded in or in abutment with the closure attachment means. In a stillfurther embodiment, the flange can abut or be integral with the closureattachment means proximate its first end. In yet a still furtherembodiment, the flange can have an inwardly extending portion distal theopen end of the closure attachment means, the inwardly extending portionhaving an end proximate to or in abutment with the closure attachmentmeans.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the retaining means of theclosure attachment means is arranged to be mounted to the open end of acontainer having a cylindrical body. The closure attachment means cancomprise an annular portion that can be disposed about the open end ofthe container. In the third aspect, the second portion is preferablysubstantially continuous and extends about the circumference of theannular portion.

The annular member preferably has an outer and inner surface, with thesecond portion and engagement means being each disposed on the outersurface. In this embodiment, the engagement means is preferably disposedradially inwardly of the second portion. The radially inward dispositionof the engagement means is preferably such that an outer surface of theclosure on engagement with the attachment means does not extendoutwardly beyond the outer dimensions of the closure attachment means.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the engagement means isdisposed on the inner surface of the annular member. In this embodiment,the engagement means, when the annular member is retained on acontainer, can extend inwardly. A closure having a complementaryengagement means can then be attached to the container and, if desired,not extend outwardly beyond the outer dimensions of the open end of thecontainer.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention consists in aclosure attachment means for mounting to an open end of a container, theclosure attachment means comprising a retaining portion for sealinglyretaining the closure attachment means to the open end of the containerand engagement means that may be engaged with complementary engagementmeans on a closure and so bring the container body to a closedcondition, the retaining portion including a first portion having asurface adapted to abut one surface of the container and a secondportion adapted to engage with the open end and the other surface of thecontainer body, and the engagement means including a tapering protrusionadapted to sealingly engage in a complementary recess in a closure whenthe container is brought to the closed condition by a closure.

In one embodiment of the fourth aspect, the tapering protrusion extendsoutwardly from an end of the closure attachment means distal theretaining portion. The closure attachment means can also comprise anannular portion having an inner and outer surface. In a preferredembodiment, the tapering protrusion is continuous and extends fullyabout the closure attachment means.

In both the third and fourth aspects, the engagement means preferablycomprises a screw thread arranged to engage with a complementary screwthread on a closure. The screw thread on the closure can comprise asingle-start or multi-start screw thread.

In the third and fourth aspects, the container and the top portion ofthe closure can be formed from a metal such as aluminium or steel orother materials such as a glass or a ceramic. The container and topportion can also be formed from or lined with thermoplastics barriersheet material or the container may also be formed either in whole orpart from a paper product, such as cardboard. The thermoplastics barriersheet material can be extruded multi-layer sheet that contains one ormore layers which are resistant to the permeation of at least oxygen andwater vapour. The barrier sheet material preferably comprises at leastone polycarbonate layer and at least one amorphous polyethyleneterephthalate layer or, alternatively, the barrier sheet may comprise atleast two layers of polypropylene and at least one layer of ethylenevinyl alcohol. When the amorphous polyethylene terephthalate layeredstructure is utilised it can comprise 90% of a 200 to 1200 micron totallayer thickness of the barrier sheet material.

In the third and fourth aspects, the closure attachment means and theskirt portion of the closure can be moulded from polypropylene or formedfrom a metal such as stainless steel or aluminium. The seal between theretaining means and the open end of the container may be achieved by aninterference fit, ultrasonic welding, adhesives or other suitablemethods which meet the requirements of the formation of a seal.

According to a further aspect, the present invention consists in acontainer having the closure attachment means according to the third orfourth aspects of the present invention mounted thereon.

The container can be used to store food products, including solids,liquids and solid/liquid combinations. The container can also be used tostore other products where degradation of the products is undesirable,including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paints, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the aspects of thepresent invention are now described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one aspect of a container/closurecombination according to the present invention;

FIG. 1a is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the containerdepicted in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are partial cross-sectional views of containers havingmodified flanges to that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1a;

FIG. 2a is a partial cross-sectional view of another container having astill further modified flange for use in the one aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified version of thecontainer/closure combination depicted in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a-3e are partial cross-sectional views of still different flangearrangements for use in the one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3f is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a still differentembodiment of a container according to the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of a modified closure for use in theone aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is an underneath plan view of the closure of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 4c is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the flangeclamping portion of the closure depicted in FIGS. 4a and 4b;

FIG. 5a is a partial cross-sectional view of a closure attachment meansaccording to a further aspect of the present invention depicted mountedon a container body,

FIG. 5b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure attachmentmeans, and

FIG. 5c is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure attachmentmeans mounted to a container having a different open end configurationto that depicted in FIGS. 5a and 5b; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another closure that can be used inthe present invention.

PREFERRED MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-4c are directed to one aspect of the present invention.

In this aspect, the container, generally depicted as 40, has acylindrical aluminium body 41 having a open end 42 surrounded by aflange 43 which extends outwardly and downwardly from the open end 42.As is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flange 43 has an outer surface 43aand can comprise or include a frusto-conical portion extendingdownwardly from the open end 42 and which is embedded in the thread ring49.

In another embodiment, such as is depicted in FIG. 2a, the flange 43extends outwardly and then downwardly such that a portion 50 issubstantially parallel to the body 41 of the container.

In further embodiments, such as depicted in FIGS. 3a and 3c, the flange43 can have a first portion 62 that extends outwardly and downwardly anda second portion 61 integrally connected to the end of the first portion62 and extending inwardly therefrom. The inward extension of the secondportion 61 serves to conceal the free end of the flange 43 therebyallowing a person to safely drink directly from the container 41 onremoval of the closure 44 therefrom.

Alternative dispositions of the flange 43 can be envisaged, includingthe rounded flange 43 depicted in FIG. 3d, which is discussed in moredetail below. The free end 43a of the flange 43 can also be embedded inthe annular ring 49 as depicted in FIG. 3b.

In a further embodiment depicted in FIG. 3f, the container is formedfrom glass with the flange 43, having the surface 43a, being formedintegral with the container 41 proximate its open end 42.

The body 41 can be fabricated from a plastics material, a metal, a glassor a ceramic. In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-3e, the body 41 isfabricated from aluminium sheet having a thickness of approximately0.125 mm and is a typical 375 mL aluminium beverage container. The useof a container fabricated from an alternative material, such as steel orglass (eg. see FIG. 3f), can be readily envisaged. The container 41could contain an alcoholic beverage such as beer or a carbonated softdrink. By being able to completely remove the closure 44 from thealuminium can depicted in FIGS. 1-3e or the glass container depicted inFIG. 3f, a drinker can drink the beverage in a manner similar to thatused when drinking a beverage poured into and served in a glass. This isespecially advantageous for beer drinkers as much of the pleasant aromaof the beer cannot be smelled by the drinker when drinking from atraditional can or bottle.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the closure 44 can be mounted to the open end 42of the body 41. The closure 44 has a planar portion 45 and a skirt 46connected by a flange clamping portion 48 having an underside that isadapted to seal with the open end 42 and the outer surface 43a of theflange 43. The flange clamping portion 48 also comprises an annularwedge 47 which seals with the inner surface of the body 41. In FIG. 1,the outside diameter of the closure 44 is 66 mm and the height of theskirt is 14 mm. A similar arrangement for the container having theflange 43 depicted in FIG. 2a can also be readily envisaged.

Disposed beneath the flange 43 is an annular thread ring 49 that ismounted around the body 41. While depicted as a separate member, thethread ring 49 in another embodiment could comprise an integral portionof the body 41. The outer surface of the thread ring 49 has amulti-start screw thread adapted to engage with a complementarymulti-start screw thread on the inner surface of the skirt 46.

On attachment of the closure 44 to the body 41, the complementary screwthreads engage with each other and the flange clamping portion 48 isdrawn into tight abutment with the open end 42 of the body 41. The wedge47 also directs radially outward pressure on the body 41 while the skirt46 directs radially inward pressure on the flange 43. This combinationof the sealing pressure at the open end 42 together with the radiallyinward and outward pressure exerted by the flange clamping portion 48lead to the formation of a seal that can withstand the high pressuresthat can be generated during filling, processing, transportation andstorage of containers for storing foods or liquids, including carbonatedbeverages.

The closure 44, including the thread ring 49, are fabricated frompolypropylene in the depicted embodiment, however, other suitablematerials, including metal, can be readily envisaged. As depicted inFIG. 3, the closure can also have a sealing liner 60 of barrier sheetmaterial covering its lower surface. A sealing gasket formed from a softplastics material, such as polyethylene, polyurethane or latex, can beused to further improve the sealing characteristics of the closure 44when on the body 41. For example, a sealing gasket 60a can be present onthe lower surface of the closure 44 at the flange clamping portion 48where it engages with the flange 43, such as is depicted in FIG. 3e.

An alternative embodiment 52 of the present invention is depicted inFIG. 3d. In this embodiment, the flange 43 is rounded over with theflange clamping portion 48 forming a seal with the outer surface of theflange 43 and the open end 42. In this embodiment, the container couldalso be sealed with a fracturable aluminium foil membrane if desired.The aluminium foil membrane can be provided to allow a person on openingof the container to determine if the contents of the container 41 havebeen tampered with.

An alternative closure 53 for mounting to the container 41 is depictedin FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c. In this closure 53, the underside of the planarportion 45 has six ribs 54 extending outwardly from a central post 55,that extends downwardly from the underside of the planar portion 45, toproximate the flange clamping portion 48. The ribs 54 serve tostrengthen the planar portion 45 of the closure 53 so reducingdeformation of this portion of the closure when used to seal a containerunder relatively high pressure. In this embodiment, the flange clampingportion 48 surrounds a groove 56 that is adapted to surround the flange43 and open end 42 of the container 41 on attachment thereto.

As is depicted in FIG. 3e, the planar portion 45 of the closure 44 canhave a zone weakness 63 defining a "pop-out" portion 64 so that theclosure can compensate for transient increases in pressure in thecontainer. This has particular application for containers used to storefoods. The pop-out portion 64 has the advantage of helping to preserveintegrity of the seal made by the closure with the container. It furtherallows the thickness of the walls of the container to be decreasedwithout a significant decrease in overall container strength.

In a still further embodiment of the closure 44, the top surface of theplanar portion 45 can be modified so that the closure can accommodatethe base of the container above thereby improving the stackability ofthe containers. For example, FIG. 6 depicts a closure 44 having anupwardly extending annular ring 70 formed integrally with the topsurface of the closure. The web 70 is firstly dimensioned to allow thebottom end of another container to be easily stacked above the containerhaving the closure. It is also dimensioned to allow the closure,following its removal of the container, to be slid over the bottom endof the container. This provides a convenient location for the closurefollowing removal in case the user may wish to re-seal the containerrather than consume or use all of the products contained therein. Theannular ring 70 further has a resiliently flexible continuous annularweb 71 extending outwardly therefrom. The flexibility of the web 71 issuch that it does not interfere with the ready stacking of containershaving the closure one above the other but is sufficiently rigid thatwill hold a removed closure on the base of the container. A person can,accordingly, open the container by removing the closure 44 and then forconvenience attach the closure 44 to the base of the container using thering 70 and the web 71.

While the depicted embodiments are directed to containers for thestorage of food, it can be readily envisaged that the embodiments couldbe directed to other goods, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals andpaints.

FIGS. 5a to 5c are directed to a further aspect of an inventionaccording to the present invention. In this aspect, the inventioncomprises an annular ring generally depicted as 10. The ring 10 has anouter surface 11 and an inner surface 12. Disposed on the outer surface11 is a continuous hook member 13 that extends about the circumferenceof the ring 10. As is more clearly depicted in FIG. 5b, the hook 13 isadapted to slide over and frictionally engage with the free end 14 of acontainer body 15. The hook 13 may be sealed to the free end 14 of thebody 15 by an interference fit, ultrasonic welding, adhesives or anyother suitable method that will meet the requirement of providing a sealbetween the ring 10 and body 15. Below the hook 13, the ring 10 hassubstantially cylindrical outer surface 18 that can abut the innersurface of the body 15 proximate its open end and so provide furthersupport for the ring 10 on the body 15.

Also disposed on the outer surface 11 is a screw thread 16 that isadapted to engage with a complementary screw thread on the inner surfaceof the skirt 19 of the closure 17. The screw thread 16 is disposedradially inwardly of the hook 13 so that, if desired and as is depictedin FIG. 5c, the outer surface of the skirt 19 does not extend radiallyoutwardly beyond the outer dimensions of the body 15. Alignment of theskirt 19 with the container 15 is desirable in many circumstances as itensures that a minimum area is taken by the packaging when beingtransported or displayed. The top end of the ring 10 has a taperingprotrusion 20 adapted, when a closure 17 is attached to the ring 10, toengage in a recess 20a in the underside of the closure 17. As theclosure 17 is screwed on to the ring 10, the surfaces of the recess 20aexert pressure on the surfaces of the protrusion 20 and so form ahermetic seal.

The body 15 can be fabricated from a metal, plastics or cardboardmaterial and/or a combination or composite of such materials. In theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 5a to 5c, the body 15 is fabricated from athermoplastics multi-layer sheet having good barrier properties, makingthe container suitable for preservation of oxygen-sensitive foods forextended periods. The multi-layer barrier sheet is selected to protectthe products against loss of flavour and loss of quality attributes dueto transmission of moisture and various gases in either directionthrough the wall of the container. A particular barrier sheet that canbe used in this depicted aspect comprises a co-extruded sheet comprisingat least three layers, each surface layer being of amorphouspolycarbonate having a melt flow index of 8-12 g/10 min (ASTM MethodD1238 condition 0) and the enclosed third layer being of amorphouspolyethylene terephthalate homopolymer or copolymer ("APET") havingintrinsic viscosity in the range 0.6 to 0.05 (Goodyear method No.R-100f). The total thickness of the layers may be typically in the range200 to 1200 microns in which typically the APET layer comprises about90% of the total thickness. The barrier sheet may comprise additionallayers.

An alternative barrier sheet of slightly lower temperature resistancethat could be employed in the depicted embodiment is a five layerco-extruded thermoplastics structure having internal and external layersof polypropylene contacted by layers of adhesive, each adhesive layer inturn contacting a relatively thin enclosed layer of ethylene vinylalcohol. This material provides an excellent barrier to permeationtransfer of water vapour, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases.

In this depicted aspect, the annular ring 10 and the closure 17 arefabricated from moulded polypropylene. These components can, however,also include more or less heat resistant olefine type thermoplasticssuch as polybutylene or high density polyethylene.

It can be readily envisaged that the skirt of the closure 17 could havea tamper evident band depending from its free end which would, when theclosure 17 was attached to the body 15, engage under a bead on the body15 or on the outer surface 11 of the ring 10 below the screw thread 16.On removal of the closure 17 from the body 15, the tamper evident bandwould engage with the bead and fracture either wholly or in part fromthe skirt of the closure so indicating removal of the closure 17 fromthe body 15.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising:a body having an open endand a flange proximate the open end, the flange extending outwardly andtowards an end of the body distal the open end; a closure for the bodycomprising a top portion and a skirt extending outwardly from the topportion, an inner surface of the closure having a flange clamping area;a closure attachment means mounted on the body proximate the flange; theclosure and closure attachment means having complementary engagementmeans such that on movement of the closure in one direction relative tothe closure attachment means the complementary engagement means mayengage to bring the container to a closed condition and on movement ofthe closure in another direction relative to the closure attachmentmeans the complementary engagement means may disengage to bring thecontainer to an opened condition; and wherein the flange clamping areacomprises a groove in an underside of the top portion of the closureadjacent the skirt, the groove being shaped to snugly receive the openend of the container body and at least a portion of the flange when thecontainer is brought to the closed condition, with a surface of thegroove forming a seal with at least the flange by exerting inwardpressure against the flange.
 2. The container as defined in claim 1wherein when the container is in the closed condition, the flangeclamping area also seals with the open end of the container by exertingpressure on the open end of the container.
 3. The container as definedin claim 1 wherein when the container is in the closed condition, theflange clamping area also seals with an inner surface of the containerbody by exerting pressure outwardly against the inner surface of thebody.
 4. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the flange has afrusto-conical portion.
 5. The container as defined in claim 1 whereinthe flange has a portion extending substantially parallel to thecontainer body.
 6. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein theflange has a free end in abutment with the closure attachment means. 7.The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the flange has a free endembedded in the closure attachment means.
 8. The container as defined inclaim 1 wherein at least a portion of the flange is in abutment with thecontainer body proximate the open end.
 9. The container as defined inclaim 1 wherein the flange has an inwardly extending portion distal theopen end of the container, the inwardly extending portion having an endproximate to with the container body.
 10. The container as defined inclaim 1, wherein the container is used to store food products.
 11. Thecontainer as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the flangeis integral with the container body proximate the open end.
 12. Thecontainer as defined in claim 1 wherein the flange has an inwardlyextending portion distal the open end of the container, the inwardlyextending portion having an end in abutment with the container body. 13.The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure and closureattachment means are molded from a plastics material.
 14. The containeras defined in claim 13 wherein the closure attachment means and theskirt portion of the closure are molded from polypropylene.
 15. Thecontainer as defined in claim 1 wherein the body of the container issubstantially cylindrical.
 16. The container as defined in claim 15wherein the closure attachment means comprises an annular ring havingthe engagement means on its outer surface.
 17. The container as definedin claim 16 wherein the engagement means on the outer surface of theannular ring is a screw thread and the engagement means on the innersurface of the closure is a screw thread, the screw thread on theannular ring being engageable with the complimentary screw thread on theinner surface of the skirt of the closure.
 18. The container as definedin claim 15 wherein an upper surface of the top portion of the closurehas an upwardly extending annular ring adapted to allow the closure tobe slidably engaged with the distal end of the container body when theclosure is removed from the open end of the container body.
 19. Thecontainer as defined in claim 18 wherein the upwardly extending annularring has a resiliently flexible web extending outwardly therefrom.